Rotatable optical fiber cable holder

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber cable holder ( 1 ) includes a holding member ( 2 ) and a fixing member ( 3 ). The holding member includes a top cover ( 21 ), a pair of holding arms ( 22 ) extending from opposite sides of the top cover, a pair of spring arms ( 23 ) extending from other opposite sides of the top cover, and a pair of locking hands ( 24 ) extending from the spring arms. A guide slot ( 211 ) is defined in the top cover, and a pair of receiving holes ( 213 ) is defined in the holding arms for retainingly receiving optical fibers ( 4 ) therein. The fixing member includes a base plate ( 2 ), an locking ring ( 32 ) connected with the base plate, and a locking groove ( 34 ) defined between the locking ring and the base plate. The locking hands are slidably received in the locking groove. The holding member is thereby rotatably engaged with the fixing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to optical fiber cable holders, andmore particularly to an optical fiber cable holder having a rotatableholding member.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In optical transmission networks, communication is performed bylight transmitting devices connected to one another by optical fibercables. Optical fiber cable holders retain the cables in positionbetween the light transmitting devices. Each cable generally comprises acore bundle of optical fibers made of frangible quartz glass, and anouter cladding protecting the core. When the position of a lighttransmitting device in a network is changed, the cables can readilybend. A cable may be required to be bent at a point where it is held bya cable holder. Excessive bending can result in leakage of light fromthe optical fibers, and even breakage of the optical fibers.

[0005] Conventional cable holders are most often used for electricalcables. U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,027 discloses a snap fit cable holder havinga U-shaped configuration. Two legs each have snap fit projections onboth insides and outsides thereof, the projections being at differentheights relative to a support base. Cables are positioned in a spacebetween the legs and the support base. The holder can accommodatevarying amounts and varying sizes of cables. However, the holder isfixed and static such that it does not prevent excessive bending ofcables in the event of the cables being moved.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,785 discloses an optical fiber cable fixingstructure. The fixing structure comprises an arcuate inner peripheralsurface for contacting a first cable holding member secured to a fixingmember, and an arcuate inner peripheral surface for contacting a sidesurface of an optical fiber cable. A second cable holding member ismounted on the fixing member, for sliding toward and away from the firstcable holding member. The second cable holding member has an arcuatesecond inner peripheral surface for contacting a side surface of thecable, and stopper means adapted to removably fix the second cableholding member in any desired position. However, the fixing structure isstatic such that it does not prevent excessive bending of cables in theevent of the cables being moved.

[0007] In view of the above, there is a need for an improved holderwhich can effectively prevent excessive bending or pulling of opticalfiber cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide anoptical fiber cable holder which prevents excessive bending of opticalfiber cables.

[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned object, an optical fiber cableholder includes a holding member and a fixing member. The holding memberincludes a top cover, a pair of holding arms extending from oppositesides of the top cover, a pair of spring arms extending from otheropposite sides of the top cover, and a pair of locking hands extendingfrom the spring arms. A guide slot is defined in the top cover, and apair of receiving holes is defined in the holding arms for retaininglyreceiving optical fibers therein. The fixing member includes a baseplate, an locking ring connected with the base plate, and a lockinggroove defined between the locking ring and the base plate. The lockinghands are slidably received in the locking groove. The holding member isthereby rotatably engaged with the fixing member.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompany drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical fiber cableholder in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and

[0013]FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing optical fiber cablesretained in the optical fiber cable holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an optical fiber cable holder inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a holding member 2 for holding optical fibers 4, and a fixingmember 3. The holding member 2 is integrally made from a single piece ofstamped metal or as a single piece of injection molded plastic material.The fixing member 3 may form a part of light transmitting device, or maybe separately formed for mounting on a light transmitting device. If thefixing member 3 is separately formed, it is integrally made from asingle piece of stamped metal or as a single piece of injection moldedplastic material. The holding member 2 is fixed on the fixing member 3.

[0015] The holding member 2 comprises a top cover 21, a pair of holdingarms 22 respectively slanting downwardly and outwardly from oppositesides of the top cover 21, a pair of elastically deformable spring arms23 respectively extending downwardly and slightly inwardly from otheropposite sides of the top cover 21, and a pair of locking hands 24respectively extending perpendicularly outwardly from bottom edges ofthe spring arms 23. A guide slot 211 is defined through a middle of thetop cover 21 and adjoining portions of the holding arms 22. A pair ofcircular receiving holes 213 is respectively defined in the holding arms22, in communication with the guide slot 211. The receiving holes 213retainingly receive the fibers 4.

[0016] The fixing member 3 comprises a square base plate 31, and anlocking ring 32 connected with the base plate 31 by two pairs of supportlegs 33 that are upwardly formed from the base plate 31 at oppositesides of the locking ring 32 respectively. An annular locking groove 34is thereby defined between the base plate 31 and the locking ring 32. Aheight of the locking groove 34 is greater than a correspondingthickness of each locking hands 24 of the holding member 2. Thereforethe locking hands 24 are slidably receivable in the locking groove 34,to enable the holding member 2 to be rotatably engaged with the fixingmember 3.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in assembly, the spring arms 23 ofthe holding member 2 are squeezed toward each other. The locking hands24 of holding member 2 are passed through the locking ring 32 of thefixing member 3. The spring arms 23 are released, and resiliently returnback to their original orientations. The locking hands 24 are slidablyreceived in the clasping groove 34 of the fixing member 3. The lockinghands 24 are retained in the locking groove 34 between the base plate 31and the locking ring 32 of the fixing member 3. Thus, the holding member2 is securely but rotatably engaged with the fixing member 3.

[0018] In removing the holding member 2 from the fixing member 3, theholding arms 22 are squeezed toward each other. The locking hands 24 arethus withdrawn from the locking groove 34 of the fixing member 3. Theholding arms 22 are then passed back out through the locking ring 32 ofthe fixing member 3.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, in use, the fibers 4 are sequentially passedthrough the guide slot 211 and retained in the receiving holes 23 of theholding member 2. Because the holding member 2 is rotatable, theretained fibers 4 can be turned in various directions according tochanges made in a position of an associated light transmitting device ina communications network. This prevents excessive bending or pulling ofthe fibers 4.

[0020] It should be understood that various changes and modifications tothe presently preferred embodiment described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing the present invention's advantages. Thus, it isintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. An optical fiber cable holder comprising: a fixing member; and aholding member rotatably engaged with the fixing member, the holdingmember comprising a top cover and a pair of spring arms, a lockingmember extending from the spring arms being locked within the fixingmember.
 2. The optical fiber cable holder as described in claim 1,wherein the spring arms extend from the opposite sides of the top cover,and are elastically deformable.
 3. The optical fiber cable holder asdescribed in claim 1, wherein a guide slot being defined in the topcover.
 4. The optical fiber cable holder as described in claim 1,further comprising a pair of holding arms extending from the oppositesides of the top cover.
 5. The optical fiber cable holder as describedin claim 4, wherein a pair of receiving holes being defined in theholding arms in communication with the guide groove.
 6. The opticalfiber cable holder as described in claim 4, wherein the optical fibercables are sequential received through the guide slot to be retaininglyreceived in the receiving holes.
 7. The optical fiber cable holder asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the fixing member further comprises a baseplate and a locking ring.
 8. The optical fiber cable holder as describedin claim 7, wherein at least one support leg extends from the base plateand connects with the locking ring.
 9. The optical fiber cable holder asdescribed in claim 7, wherein a locking groove being defined between thelocking ring and the base plate slidably receiving the locking member ofthe holding member.
 10. The optical fiber cable holder as described inclaim 1, wherein the holding member and the fixing member are eachstamped from a single piece of metallic material.
 11. The optical fibercable holder as described in claim 1, wherein the holding member and thefixing member are each formed as a single piece of injection moldedplastic material.
 12. An optical fiber cable holder comprising: aholding member to hold optical fiber cables, the holding membercomprising a top cover, a pair of holding arms, and a pair of springarms, wherein a guide slot is defined in the top cover, a pair ofreceiving holes is defined in the holding arms in communication with theguide slot for retainingly receiving the optical fiber cables therein,and a pair of locking members extends from the spring arms; and a fixingmember for fixing the holding member therein, the fixing membercomprising a base plate and an locking ring, wherein the locking ringconnects with the base plate, and a locking groove is defined betweenthe locking ring and the base plate slidably receiving the lockingmembers of the holding member.
 13. The optical fiber cable holder asdescribed in claim 12, wherein the spring arms extend from the oppositesides of the top cover, and are elastically deformable.
 14. The opticalfiber cable holder as described in claim 12, wherein at least onesupport leg extends from the base plate and connects with the lockingring.
 15. The optical fiber cable holder as described in claim 12,wherein the optical fiber cables are sequential received through theguide slot to be retainingly received in the receiving holes.
 16. Theoptical fiber cable holder as described in claim 12, wherein the heightof the locking groove of the fixing member is greater than the thicknessof the locking member of the holding member.
 17. The optical fiber cableholder as described in claim 12, wherein the holding member and thefixing member are each stamped from a single piece of metallic material.18. The optical fiber cable holder as described in claim 12, wherein theholding member and the fixing member are each formed as a single pieceof injection molded plastic material.
 19. An optical fiber holdercomprising: a base defining a locking groove thereof; and a holdingmember defining in a first direction a pair of opposite locking handslatchably while rotatably engaged within the locking groove, and a pairof holding arms in a second direction perpendicular to said firstdirection, said pair of holding arms defining respectively a pair ofholding holes retainably receiving a plurality of optical fibers thereinin said second direction; wherein a top cover connecting said pair ofholding arms and defining a guide slot in communication with said pairof holding holes for allowing the optical fibers to be insertedtherethrough toward said holding holes in a third directionperpendicular to both said first and second direction.